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ALONE AT LAST. 



Written by Henry Cockton. 



Published by 

O. & S. SILBERMAN, 

No. 527 St. Peter Street, 
ST. PAUL, MINN. 



TMP92-006866 



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CHAPTER I. 

THE INTRODUCTION-. 

Near the borders of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire stands t, &ae 
commanding Hall in the centre of an extensive park, fringed with a 
tastefully arranged plantation studded with rare and beautiful shrubs. 
This Hall, at the period of which our history treats, was the property 
and residence of General Brooke, who, having amassed considerable 
wealth during twenty years' service in India, purchased the estate on 
his return to England Avith the view of passing the remainder of his 
life in a state of complete tranquility. 

In India he married the lovely but delicate daughter of Major 
Mordaunt, and nothing occured to mar their mutual happiness until, 
on being assured that she could no longer live in that climate with 
safety, she returned to England with her only child, Gcorgiana, an 
exceedingly interesting girl, whose age at that time was fourteen. 

On her arrival in England, Georgiana, who already possessed 
many accomplishments, was sent to school, but, as her fond mother 
found she could not endure the loss of her endearing society she, in less 
than a month, returned, and, during the five years which elasped be- 
fore the General left India, her education was carefully conducted a* 
home. 



GEORGIAN A. 



Almost immediately after the General's return to England, the 
estate in question was purchased, and, for a time, everything went on 
delightfully. After the scenes of excitment in which he had lived, he 
viewed this place as a haven of rest. But the charms of retirement 
soon "began to fade; the very excitement which he had panted to escape 
he soou deemed essential to his happiness. To those scenes, however, 
there was no returning. He therefore tried to reconcile himself to se- 
clusion but, in doing so, gradually became selfish. His own happiness 
was then the only object he had in view, but it never appeared to strike 
him that that could be secured only by the practice of imparting hap- 
piness to others. He seemed to live for himself alone, and became 
morose, peevish, tyrannous and wretched. 

This change Mrs. Brooke — whose health was still extremely delicate 
— noticed with exquisite pain, while Georgiana anxiously displayed her 
accomplishments with the view of inspiring him with delight. She 
would siug to him, play to him, talk to him, read to him, but even 
when he consented to listen it was without the slightest manifestation 
of pleasure. It was, however, but seldom that her efforts were not 
checked. " There that'll do; that'll do; that'squite enough of it," fre- 
quently would he exclaim. " Run away. I want to think. Go and 
take a ride " 

Georgiana was an excellent horsewoman, and riding washer favor- 
ite exercise. She was, in fact, a dashing rider ; she stood for neither 
gate nor hedge, and displayed in her leaps a total absence of fear. She 
rode for three hours at least every morinng — except, indeed, when the 
weather was bad — accompanied by her own groom, Tom, a finely made, 
smart, handsome fellow, who had, by his respectful manners, skill, and 
attention, secured the favor of even the General himself. 

He was, however, the most especial favorite of Georgiana, for 
whom he would williugly have risked his life, he appreciated her kind- 
ness, amiability, and condesension so highly. He was, indeed, devoted 
to her: he never felt so happy as when an oppertunity offered for pay- 
ing her any additional attention, and frequently would she create op- 
portunities soley because she saw that it gave him pleasure to embrace 
them. 



GEORGIANA. 3 

In a few months, however, she began to inspire other feelings 
than those of attachment to him as a servant: she began to feel happy 
m his society, and happy only when he was with her, and as he, inner 
rides, was her only companion, these feelings at length struck root in 
her heart, and grew, and ripened into love. 

She did, in reality, love him ! Still, on becoming ouite cautious 
of the fact, pride prompted her to check its development. Ske con- 
trasted her own station with his, her own education with his, her own 
connections with his; and the result of that contrast induced her to 
adopt, as she imagined, the means of subduing her passion. 

" George, George !" she exclaimed to herself, " this must not be. 
The idea of forming an alliance with a man in his position must be re- 
pudiated, and hence it will be madness to cherish that feeling, the 
growth of which may cause you to be, throughout life, wretched. He 
is kind, attentive, devoted, affectionate, and, were he a gentleman — 
but he is not, and, therefore, this feeling must be conquered ! " 

She ceased to take her usual exercice. Indisposition was the plea. 
For a week she abstained, but her spirits sank, and she felt, in reality, ill. 

v> My dear George," said Mrs. Brooke, at the expiration of this 
week, " why are you so sad ? I am aware, my love, that you must 
find this place extremely dull. I wished to heaven that your papa 
had not purchased it. As far as I am concerned, it is a slight inport^ 
ance, for, afflicted, as I am, I cannot be lively, I cannot be gay; but 
the change that the place has effected in him is amusing. Formerly, 
society had irresistible charms ; he was the soul of every circle he en- 
bered: but now he appears to view all society with abhorrence, and 
shuns it as if it were really pestilential. I wish that he would form 
some circle around him, not for my own sake, love, but for yours, for 
this lit;- to you must be montonous in the extreme." 

" I haye not, hitherto, felt it to be so," replied Georgiana. "Cert- 
ainly we have not been gay!" 

"We haye not, indeed. I was speaking to your papa on this 
subject this morning! and eventually prevailed upon him to invite 
Colonel Storr and his daughter. You, of course, remember Julia t 
my love ? " 



4 GEORGIANA. 

''Oh, perfectly. And will papa invite them ? " The invitation 
will be sent by this evening's post." 

" Oh, I am so delighted. She is a most charming, light-hearted 
girl : so lively, so full of spirits, and she loves me so much, that I am 
sure that we shall be happy. How long will they stay ? " 

' ' They are to be invited for a month. " 

" A month ! That will be joy, indeed. We shall have such de- 
lightful rides together. I only wish, mamma, that you were well enough 
to join us. 

"Do not suffer that to depress you, my love : if you do, you will 
give me great pain. I am perfectly resigned. If I can but see you 
happy, the very highest earthly hope I have will be realized. There- 
fore do, my love, be cheerful. You have taken no exercise of late. 
Do you not think that a short, gentle ride, this lovely morning, would 
have the effect of raising your spirits ? Try it, my dear. Do let me 
prevail upon you to take a quiet ride around the park." 

Georgiana consented. She did so on the impulse of the moment, 
and reflection tended to convince her that she Avas right. "Why should 
I continue to confine myself thus ? " she exclaimed, in private. "Havd 
I not sufficient resolution — sufficient strength of mind — sufficient pride 
to meet and to regard him as my servant ? She abanded the thought 
of being incapable of deing so, and then, somewhat haughty, ordered 
her horse. Tom, on receiving this order, was delighted : not that he 
had even the most remote idea of the feeling he had inspired but be- 
cause he conceived that she had been restored to health, the assumed 
loss of which had deprived him of much pleasure. He therefore 
saddled the horse with alacrity, and as he led him to the door Georgiana 
came forth : but although he bowed with profound respect, she took 
not the slightest notice of him — nor did she utter a word : she walked 
direct to the saddle, and when, with his usual address, he had assisted 
her to mount, she turned her horse's head and was off. Tom then at- 
tempted to mount, but no sooner had he placed his foot in the stirrup, 
than his horse, impatient to be after his companion, turned, started 



/BOROIAXA. 5 

Georgiana was for so»--e time unconscious of this; hut when she 
saw the horse without Ws rvier, she on the instant stopped, and nearly 
fainted. 

" Good Heavens! " she exclaimed; "he has been thrown !" But 
on turning round she saw him running towards her as fast as it was 
possible for him to run. She notwithstanding galloped back to meet 
him, and with an expression of solicitude inquired if he were hurt, and 
on being assured by Tom that he was not, she breathed again, and 
thanked Heaven ! 

As Georgiana stopped Tom soon caught his horse, and when he 
had mounted, she slowly proceeded towards her favorite avenne, over 
wluch the trees on both sides had been trained to form an arch. 

On reaching this avenue, she looked round ; and Tom, conceiving 
ihat she wished to speak to him, rode up on the instant. 

" You are sure," she observed, " quite sure, that you are not at 
all hurt?" 

** Quite, miss, quite," returned Tom, respectfully. 

"Be careful, Thomas: be careful in future. I was wrong, very 
wrong in starting at that place." 

1 ■ I was glad to see you do it, miss. * 

"Why?" 

"Because, miss, it proved that you were well again, and that 
made me feel quite happy." 

"Do you always feel happy, then, when I am well ?" 

" 1 don't feel happy, miss, when you are not." 

" But how can the state of my health affect ijou?" 

" I don't know, I'm sure, miss, how it is ; but I hope you'll never 
be ill again." 

" He loves me," thought Georgiana : "that is now clear. Poor 
fellow ! I pity him — but I must be firm." 

The colloquy here ended. She urged her horse into a canter, and 
went her usual round, but not another word passed between them that 
day. N»»r did she speak to him the next day, nor the day following 
that, nor indeed until Colonel Storr and Julia came down, and even 
then Aw merely said to him : 



6 GEORGIAN 

"Thomas, I wish Miss Storr, while she is here, to have my horse — 
you'll saddle papa's bay for me." 

Colonel Storr, on his arrival, was perfectly astonished at the 
ehange which retirement had wrought in the appearance, habits, feel- 
ings, and disposition of the general. He had served with him in In- 
dia, where he was all life, and spirit, and fire ; he was also his constant 
companion in London previously to his having purchased this estate, 
and even there he sustained his reputation for gayety: he was therefore 
amazed when he found him taciturn, irritable, and unhappy. 

" General, general ! My life !" he exclaimed. "Why, what a dull 
dog you've become ! " 

" This is a dull place — a dull place," replied the general. 

"Then why don't you make it more lively?" 

"How?" 

" Why, by bringing a circle of friends around you." 

" You mean by giving dinners to a parcel of men who talk about 
nothing but horses and dogs. I hate your provincial aristocracy. I 
hold them in utter abhorrence! A set of muddleheaded, haughty, 
unintellectual fellows ! — why, they have faculties only to enter with 
spirit into a rat-hunt ! " 

1 ' Are you not somewhat too severe ? " 

" They are not worth any man's severity. They are worthy only 
of contempt." 

" I am inclined to think that you libel some of them." 

' ' They are not worth a libel. I know them well. Their brains 
are swamped in fat. They haven't an idea which doesn't spring from 
either their passions, their stomachs, or their pockets. They are all 
animal — and a most disgusting species of animal they belong to. They 
ape the aristocracy — the real aristocracy. You should hear them — 
"Moi deor fellow — aw, how aw yar? Foine weathor — deloightful 
■weathor! Pos'tively — aw — mugnificent weathor! Borle/s — aw — 
getting orn splendidly — aw. The wheats, too — aw, foine; aw — 111 
take two to one they average tin coomb an acor. Foine gort, that ! 
aw — magnificent animal— who — aw — is she ? " W T hy, what do I want 
with such fellows as those ? And then the women: — "My gracious 



GEORGIANA. 7 

nO : it's excessively old ; but really, as I said to Miss Smirke this mor- 
ning, is it, can it be conceivable, that a creature like that could by 
any fair means have secured him for whom so many lovely girls were 
dying ? " Why, colonel, do you think that I would suffer my girl to 
associate with Avretches like these ? They are the very scum of the 
earth." 

" I know that you were always satirical," returned the colonel, 
"and, doubtless, there are some such persons to be found even here; 
but I should have thought that, with Cambridge on one side and New- 
market on the other, persons might be discovered with a little more 
refinement." 

" /have found none." 

" Perhaps you have never sought them." 

" Well, to tell you, the truth, I neber hrve." 

" Then that brings us back to the point from which we^started, 
that the dnluess of which you complain is your own fault. A man in 
yonr position can always bring a circle around him ; and if even he 
not sure that every one whom he invites, or by whom he may be in- 
vited, is a really sincere friend — a friend who would even in adversity 
stick to him — he is not justified in keeping aloof from society ; he is 
not even justified in repudiating a hundred because ninety-nine out of 
that hundred may prove insincere. In all civilized countries society 
has become so essentially artificial, that scarcely any man of sense can 
expect to find purely disinterested friendship. They must lofck at 
friends only with reference to the pleasure they have the power of im- 
parting. If they can give pleasure — no matter how — their society is 
to be courted. It is, in fact, selfish to expect that those whom you 
associate with would make sacrifices for you." 

" That's right," said the general ; " that's quite right." 

"Then why do you deprive yourself of the pleasure which society 
— such a* it is — affords ? " 

"I have »et none about here but fools." 

" Then you have been most unfortunate — I should say peculiarly 
unfortunate ; but if even they be all fools, why not be a Triton amon^ 
the mianows? — a very great man among the very small? Y*u migkt 



% GEORGIANA. 

find pleasure even in that. If a man resolves to assiate with none but 
highly intellectual persons, his circle in the provinces will be extremely 
Limited ; and if he should make up his mind to tolerate none at his 
table but absolute friends, he may as well shut himself up with his 
wife and study the authorities of Burton. You are now in a position 
to care for no man upon earth ! Why, then, should you be hypochon- 
drical ? I have known you to derive pleasure even from the presence 
of a mere toady. If you cannot make friends of men, use them for 
your sport ; do nnything rather than sink into misanthropy. Try a 
few of the families around you : try them. If you find that you can 
derive no pleasure from their society, you need not continue to associate 
with them. What if they be indignant at the fact of their being cut? 
What need you care, for their indignation ? You are in position of the 
most per- feet independence ! Therefore try them, Brooke ; try them/ 

" I have thought of inviting two or three who live near me." 

"Do so by all means. Have them here, and see what they are 
made of. This sort of life will never do I — depend upon it, Brooko, it 
will never do at all. But I am anxious to see this estate of yours. 
Shall we take a turn round the park ? " 

" With all my heart," replied the general, who ordered the horses; 
and, when they were brought, he and the colonel left the hall. 

Georgiana, who was on the lawn with Julia when they left, and 
who was anxious to consult her on the subject which still engrossed' 
nearly the whole of her thoughts, shortly afterwards led her itito her 
favorite room, and having taken a seat by her side at the window. 

" Julia, I am ubout to ask a very simple question, dear ; but were 
you ever in love?" 

' ' In love ! " echoed Julia archly. ' ' Yes ; I'm in love with all the 
world ; I'm in love with this beautiful place." 

' y But were you ever really in love, dear — in love, absolutely ? 
You know what I mean." 

" What, in love with a man ? " 

"Yes." 

" Never, dear, never ! But I think that I see one at this moment 
near me who has been, and is." 



GEORGIANA. £ 

"Oh! ridiculous!" 

" Do you mean, then, to say that you are not?" 

" What on earth could have induced such a thought?" 

" The fact of your having put the question to me. But I never 

was, in your sense, in love. I should, however, like to be, dearly. It 

must be so nice— if, indeed, the descriptions I have read of it be correct 

— but why did you ask me ? " 

" Because I should dearly like to hear you explain your ideas on 

the subject." 

" Well, dear, as far as I am able to judge, love must be a com- 
bination of all the most beautiful feelings of our nature — a species of 
celestial ecstary — the essence of all our most charming sensations— the 
acme of all that is delightful. Recollect, I know nothing whatever, 
about it, but my impression is that to be in love is to be in a state of 
rapture." 

" Does not that depend upon circumstances, dear?" 

"Well, I don't know ; but I should say that, under any conceiv- 
able circumstances, it must indeed be sweet to be in love." 

" Can you not conceive that it would be dreadful if, for instance, 
you were in love with a man you never could marry ? " 

" You allude, I presume, to a man already married. But girls, 
my dear, don't fall in love with married men. I don't mean, to say 
that a case of the kind never occured ; but they don't in general do it 
— they know better." 

Georgiana slightly smiled as she replied, " I did not allude to a 
married man." 

"Then to whom, my dear, did you allude?" 

"I alluded to the case of a girl in love with one whose position in 
uociety is far below her own." 

" Well ! and do you imagine that, if this were my case, I should 
conceive it to be dreadful ! " 
"Would you not?" 

" No ! If I loved him— absolutely loved him— and he loved mc— 
nf course I couldn't love him if he didn't— instead of regarding the fate 
as beinir dreadful, I should be in a state of ecstasy!" 



10 GEORG1ANA. 

" And would you marry him ? " 

" Of course. Should we not always marry those whom we love? " 

" But suppose that he were very far below you in station? " 

" Station has nothing to do, dear, with love. Who is it that says, 
" Love levels all distinctions " ? Some one who knew all about it, I'm 
sure. When a rich man marries a poor girl he raises her from her own 
station to his ; and when a rich woman marries a poor man she raises 
him from his station to hers." 

" But what if he should have no education? " 

"What do you mean by education?" 

" Suppose that he could merely read and write ? " 

" I should like it all the better. I don't, of course, contemplate 
for a moment the possibility of his being afoot; but if he could but just 
read and write, I'd be bound to make an excellent husband of him # 
Don't you see that I should then have it all my own way? I hate your 
wise and all-accomplished men : the pride which sprsngs from the con- 
sciousness of their intellectual superiority is perfectly disgusting. They 
never make my style of husband. But a man like him of whom you 
epeak I could mould as I pleased, and it would be my fault if I spoiled 
him. Give me a man who doesn't know too muoh. That's the style 
of man, dear, forme. Should he want education, I'd educate hin< 
after my own fashion, and just to the extent I deemed correct; should 
he not be a gentleman, I'd make him one in my own style, and just 
what I imagine a gentleman should be." 

"But would not that be rather difficult?" 

" Difficult ! No ; not at all. Such a man would only require to 
be trained ! And I'd train him." 

' ' But seriously, dear," observed Georgiana. 

" Seriously ! Am I not serious ? " 

" You really are such a merry girl, that I know neither when you 
are, nor when you are not." 

"Oh ! but I have been serious all the time !" 

"Well, but do you not think that there would be great impro- 
priety in either you or I marrying such a man? " 



GEORGIANA. 11 

" X do not. I cannot see what impropriety there could be — as- 
suming, of course,- that he was really beloved, and that he really loved 
in return." 

"Julia! I'll now impart to you a secret — a secret which I am 
quite sure you will not in any case reveal. 1 feel that I can safely 
confide in you, Julia!" 

"You do me justice, dear George, to believe it." 

"Julia," resumed, Georgiana, with an expression of intensisy, 
" /am in love. I am in love with one whose station is far below min; 
but one who doats upon me, and is devoted to me." 

"Indeed! Who is he?" 

1 • Julia, I feel almost ashamed to tell you ; but I will do so : he is 
~-my groom." 

"Oh, do let me see him ! Where is he? At home?" 

"Yes." 

"Send for him. then; there's a dear. I'll not hear another word 
mi til I have seen him. Do send for him, George; there's a love." 

"But how can I? Under what pretext, dear? What am I to 
cay?" 

"Oh! when he comes, say that you don't want your horse; or, 
order the horse, and then after your mind ; or — yes; this will be better 
—tell him that I wish to look at the horge ; that will be excellent, 
George, and no story ; for I do in reality wish to see it. Shall I ring 
the bell, dear?" she added, starting up and ringing it before Georgiana 
could answer. " Oh ! I'm so anxious to have a look at him : I know 
he's a dear before he comes " 

"James," said Georgiana, as the servant entered, " desire Thomas 
io come up." 

" Is he tall ?" inquired Julia. 

"Not very tall." 

"Handsome?" 

" In my view, very. But you will be able to judge for yourself.' 

' ' Are his eyes dark ? — and flashing ? " 

"Now do, my dear Julia, wait until you see him." 

"Well but he is such a time ! How old is he? " 



12 GEORGIANA. 

" Why I should say about fbur-and-twenty." 

" That's just the age I should like a husband." . 

"Hush?" cried Georgiana, as Tom knocked. "Come in ! — 
Thomas," she added, as he entered and bowed respectfully, " Miss Storr 
■wishes to see my horse. Will you bring him upon the lawn ? " 

" With pleasure, miss," replied Tom ; immediately. 

" You can put your own saddle on, Thomas." 

" I will do so," replied he, and left the room. 

" Well," said Georgiana' " are you satisfied ?" 

"Satisfied, dear ! He's a love of a man. If he were but properly 
dressed he'd be one of the most charming fellows I ever saw. My style 
of a man exactly ! He is, as you say, very handsome ; and, as to the 
fact of your loving him, I really could love him myself. But why do 
you allow him to call you miss t — " Certainly m its ! Yes mi.**! No 
miss / " and so on. Does'nt it sound, under the circumstances, odd ? " 

f ' It certainly does ; but then he knows nothing whatever of the 
circumstances to which you allude. My object has been to conceal 
from him the feelings which he has unconsciously awakened." 

" I don't see that you need be ashamed of those feelings, or of 
him by whom those feelings have been inspired. But do you really 
think that ho has no idea of the fact of your being in love with him, 
George?" 

" I do not believe thtk he has the slightest." 

His disposition appears to be good, dear ; is it so ? 

" Oh, most kind ! There is nothing in the world that he would 
not d<r to serve me, while the faintest acknowledgment of his services 
really appears to fill his heart with gratitude." " Why what a dear 
devoted husband he would make ! But here he is. Look ! Upon 
my word he's a finely made man ! Tell him to mount, dear, and ride 
round the lawn. Shall /ask him to do so? " 

" Oh, if you please ! " 

V Thomas ! " cried Julia—" Thomas ! Will you do me the favor 
tot let me see him gallop ? " 

Tom touched his hat, and sprang into the saddle ; and then, in fine 
8? fie, took a sweep round the lawn. 



GEORGIANA. 13 

" How gracefully he rides ! " exclaimed Julia. I never saw a 
man sit a horse with more ease." 

" He has been used to it from infancy," returned Georgiana ; " he 
therefore ought to be able to ride pretty well." 

" Very true, 'my dear : but there are some men who have been in 
the habit of riding for more than half a century, and yet cannot ride 
with grace. Now, he is an elegant rider.' See with what perfect ease 
he sits ! That will do, Thomas ! "she cried, as Tom approached — " that 
will do. Thank you." 

Tom bowed, touched his hat, and rode off. 

" Oh ! she exclaimed, I forgot to look at the horse ! " 

" You will see it in the morning," observed Georgiana. 

" Well, that will do ! And now let us pursue our original subject. 
You were saying that you really loved Thomas. Well, why do you 
not let him know that you love him ? " 

" I have not hitherto dared to do so." 

" You have not dared to do so ? Why not ? 

" Before I allow him to do that, Julia, I must of course, make up 
my mind to have him. 

" Then why don't you make up your mind at once ? 

" Oh ! lc>k at the position in which it would place me." 

" What position do you imagine it would place you in, dear ? Let 
us look at all the difficulties you can conceive. Now then." 

" Well :.In the first place, papa, I fear, could never be prevailed 
upon to give his consent." 

" That is a difficulty, certainly. And yet, do you not think that 
if he knew that you loved him and that your happiness depended upon 
your having him, he would yield?" 

11 1 think not. I feel sure that he would not. I am unhappily 
almost certain that he would treat the idea with scorn. " 

11 Well : but if love be that which I have always understood it to 
be, it is not a thing to be trifled with ! It is not to be controlled ! We 
cannot fix our affections at will, nor can we at all remove our affections 
when fixed ! Were I to love a man — no matter whom he might be— 
I must either have him, or be forever unhappy. The question would 

\—>~ > ... 



14 GEORGIANA. 

therefore resolve itself to this : Shall I throughout life he happy o* 
wretched ? I know how to answer that question myself i " 

"You would of course decide in favor of happiness. But could 
you be happy if you were to find that that decision made your friend* 
wretched ? " 

" Why should your happiness make them wretched 1 " 

" But if you found that they were — if your parents, for example, 
were to cast you off in consequence — could you be happy ? " 

"'* I cannot conceive the possibility of their being so hard-hearted. 
What ! cast you off for marrying the man whom you love ? repudiate 
you utterly, because you are happy ? Such stony-hearted people might 
have lived in the dark ages, but I dont think there are any of that sort 
in existence now. No, George, they would find your happiness con- 
tagious : they would be happy in the conviction that you were happy. 
They might indeed say, " Well, there certainly does appear to be some 
impropriety in the step that has been taken ; " but what would they 
say then? Why this of course : " It is not for us to make these 
young people unhappy : we will not mar their happiness : no — it is for 
us to reconcile ourselves to the match, and to hope that the happiness 
they now enjoy may be lasting." Happiness, dear, is the end and aim 
of life ; and when we have it in our reach, we are wrong if we do not 
embrace it." 

"I feel that I should be happy, most happy with him." 

" I have not the slightest doubt of it. How grateful he would be ! 
how attentive, how devoted, how anxious to please ! His affection, de- 
pend upon it, would be unbounded." 
I " How then shall I act?" 

" Why, I think that in the first place you ought to reveal to him 
the secret ; you ought to let him know that you love him." 

" But how is it possible ? How can I do it ? " 

"Shall I do it for you?" 

" But what will you say ?" 

" Leave that to me ; and then leave the rest to him.* 

W I tremble to think of it." 



GEORGIAN A. 15 

"Fiddlesticks, dear! But we'll speak of this again. Papa and 
the General are coming across the lawn. Shall we run down to meet 
them ? " 

Georgiana consented ; but she felt ill at ease, for her mind was filled 
with apprehension. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE CONSULTATION. 

On the following morning, Julia, having obtained the consent of 
Georgiana, prepared to impart the grand secret to Tom. It was ar- 
ranged that they should take a ride together ; and that, on reaching 
her favorite avenue, Georgiana should playfully leave Julia, go round, 
and meet her and Tom at the top. 

They accordingly mounted their horses and started ; but Georgiana 
felt extremely tremulous — so tremulous, indeed, that Julia had the ut- 
most difficulty in prevailing on her to leave. She did, however, at 
length prevail ; and Georgiana at the entrance left them. 

" Very well, Miss George, cried Julia. " Thomas will guide me 
safely through. Now," she added, playfully, having beckoned Tom to 
her side, " you must not lose me in this sweet place." 

Tom touched his hat and smiled. 

"Do you always accompany Georgiana?" she inquired. 

" Always, miss," replied Tom. 

" You must be very fond of her ? * 

" Everybody must be fond of her, miss." 

" I wish," said Julia, smiling, "that when you address me, you 
would not call me " miss." Georgiana doesn't like to be called " miss " 
by you. But, as I was saying, you are very fond of her ? " 

" I'd do anything in the world to serve her." 

" And she would do anything in the world to serve you. You 
are a fortunate man, Thomas, to be loved by oae so amiable, so elegant, 
and so kind as Georgiana." 



16 GEORGIAN A. 

Tom looked at her for a moment, and marveled what she meant. 

"Do you not think," pursued Julia, " that she would make a 
delightful wife?" 

" I'm sure she would, miss ; but I can't say I should like to see 
her married." 

"To whom?" 

" Not to anyone." • 

" Indeed ! Would you not like to marry her yourself ? " 

" Oh ! replied Tom, " that is out of the question." 

" Indeed, it is not at all out of the question." 

" Such a lady would never think of anyone like me." 

" Not think of anyone whom she loves £ " 

" She's kind, very kind, and condescending, and I'm very grate- 
ful for it ; but I can't think she right on loves me." 

" But I know that she does. She told me so herself. And if I 
were you, I should know how to act." 

" I beg pardon ; but how would you act." 

"Why, /should propose to her at once." 

" I'm afraid, miss, you'r only making fun of me. " 

1 ' Indeed I am not. No ! Upon my honor. I know that she 
loves you passionately ; and, therefore, if you do not act as I have sug- 
gested, you are not a wise man. But here she is. Now reflect upon 
what I have said." 

Reflect! Yes. Tom did reflect: he reflected until he became 
quite bewildered. He knew neither how he rode, nor where he went, 
his faculties were in such a state of confusion. He followed the ladies, 
as a matter of course; but he did so almost unconsciously, and on his 
return he went straight to the manger, upon which he sat, and let his 
imagination loose. For an hour he remained in this position, and 
would have continued much longer, doubtless, but that an idea struck 
and roused him. His father! Yes, he'd consult his father. He'd ask 
leave to go to Newmarket at once. And he did so ; and obtained leave, 
and mounted one of the horses, and rode to Newmarket, and wasn't 
long about it 

His father — a very decent man in his way — kept a very small 
public-house in that town. He had been a training groom ; and, there- 



GEORGIAN A. 17 

fore, flattered himself that he had forgotten more than any other man 
alive ever knew. On all matters connected with the turf, Timothy 
Tcdd was a very high authority. He knew everything. It was be- 
lieved that he never said " I don't know " in his life. He was sure to 
know. He would know, and that, too, much better than anyone else. 
He was notwithstanding, a hearty old fellow, and never out to temper 
■ — when he had his own way. 

"What, Tommy, my boy!" he exclaimed, as Tom entered; 
" why, what brings you over here to-day? Hallo," he added, " why, 
you look anxious. Anything amiss ? " 

" Just bring your body this way," replied Tom ; " I want to speak 
privately." 

1 ' Stop ! I can't stir — you know I can't stir — till I know what's 
the matter. Is there anything wrong ? " 

" No. Everything's right; as right as a regiment." 

" Very good, Tommy ; then come along in. Now then — but stop; 
afore we perceed, have a little drop o' sufFen to take. "What'll you 
have?" 

"Oh, let's have some brandy-and-water." 

"Polly, mix some brandy-and-water, and bring in some pipes, 
and a couple o' screws." 

" Now, then," said Tom. 

"Stop, Tommy: don't be too fast. Let's fust have everything 
right and reg'lar. Come, Polly ; come, my girl, come." 

" Well, I'm coming," cried Polly. 

"Well, come. Now, mind," said he, when she had brought in 
the brandy-and-water, and placed the pipes and screws upon the table, 
" we ain't to be disturbed, Polly ; recollect that. Shet the door, and 
don't come in for any mortal flesh. Now, in the fust place," he added, 
"Tommy, how's pour missis?" 

" Much as usual," replied Tom ; "no better." 

" Keep in with her, Tommy, keep in with her. Missises is the 
great swells arter all. A servant which keeps in with his missis " 

" Now, jist shet up shop for a minute or two, and listen a little 
to me." 



18 GEORGIANA. 

" But I know I'm right, Tommy ; I know I'm right." 

"Well, I dessay you are; but jest hold hard a bit. You know 
my young missis?" 

"Know her! Yes, and a stunnin'' young lady she is. I hope 
nothin' ain't happened to her, Tommy, eh ? " 

" I'll tell you what's happened : she's fell dead in love, and, what's 
more, she's fell in love with me ! " 

" With ymt! Then, mark my words, Tommy, mark my words, 
j'ou'll lose your sittiwation." 

" Not a bit of it: no, not a ha'p'orth of it." 

" Ah, but I know I'm right. I know I'm right. Directly the Ge- 
neral finds it out, good-bye ; you'll have to cut it." 

11 Well, but look here." 

" I don't care where you look, I know you'll have to look for 
another sittiwation." 

"I wish you'd be quiet: I wQ\ you would. I came over here to 
consult you ; but how can you give me a mite of advice if you won't 
hear what I've to say. Now, jest listen, will you?" 

" Go on Tommy, go on, my boy." 

" Well, we have at the Hall a Colonel Storr, who came down 
yesterday with his daughter — who's a very nice young lady — went 
out this morning with Miss Georgiana for a ride — I with 'em. Well 
we no sooner gets to what I calls the Shades, than Miss George takes it 
into her head to bolt, and leaves me and Miss Storr together." 

" Well, but didn't you bolt arter her?" 

" I meant to do, but Miss Storr stopped me, and called me to her 
and says, says she, " Thomas, ain't you fond of Miss Georgiana ?" 

"Why, miss," says I, "I'd do anything to please her." "Don't 
you think," says she, " she'd make a nice wife \ " M Safe," says I," but 
I shouldn't much like to see her married." 

" Wouldn't you," says she, " like to marry her yourself ? "_l'Oh," 
says I, " that's quite out of the question." " I don't know so much 
about that," says she ; and then she told me plump that Miss Georgiana 
toved me, and went on to tell me at once to pop the question." 



GEORGIANA. 19 

44 Don't be too fast, Tommy ; don't be too fast. Many a good horse 
has been too fast in starting. Now, before we goes further, jest let's 
•Wk at this. Miss Georgiana left you, you say?" 

44 Yes." 

44 Very good. Do you think, Tommy, that was a planned thing ? " 

44 No doubt of it." 

44 Very good. Now lets be steady. It seems to me that she told 
mis Miss— what's her name ?— Storr , to tell you all about it. She talked 
->f marriage, you say ? " 

44 She did." 

44 Very good. Has Miss Georgiana much tin of her own ? " 

44 Lots!" 

44 How do you know Tommy? — how do you know ? " 

44 Oh, her aunt left her a mint ! " 

4 4 Very good. Well, then, now we'll go on a little further, Tommy. 
When this Miss Storr told you to pop the question, what did you say 
to that ? " 

4 4 Why, jest at that moment George came up, and when Miss Storr 
had told me to reflect on what she'd said to me, nothing more passed ; 
so when I got back, I thought I'd come over to ask your advice." 

4 ' Very good. You got leave, in course ? " 

44 Oh yes." 

44 Very good. Now, Tommy, if there's a man in the world which 
knows every move in these matters, it's me. You, therefore, did right 
to come over. Now, jest look you here ; when I sum all this up, it 
strikes me forcible that you'll be a nob ! If she'll marry you — and it 
looks stiffen like it — in course you'll belong to the nobbery, safe. But 
don't be too fast, Tommy ; don't be too fast. Play your game careful 
and you'll win the game. You was alius a lucky dog, even when you 
was a child ; but if you are lucky in this, my boy, it'll make a man of 
you. Didn't I alius say, Stick to the missises ? Didn't I alius tell you 
so? But how about the General Tommy ; how about the General ? 

44 Ah, that's the p'int." 

44 In course lie won't consent to nothin' of the sort. You may 
take your oath of that ; so look out ; for, if he smells a rat, why, in 



20 OBORGIANA. 

course, off you goes, and there'll be the end o' the matter. Now, Y\\ 
tell you what I'd do :.I wouldn't take no sort o' notice jest yet. Go on 
jest as usual. Keep your eyes about you, and you'll soon see, Tommy, 
which way the cat jumps; and when you do, that'll be the time to 
make play. But whatever you do, Tommy, keep the thing dark. Don't 
say a word to no mortal flesh. If you do, you'll be done. But, I say 
who'd ever ha' thought of your being a nob ? Send I may live ! when 
you come on the course in your curricle, what'll the knowing ones say ? 
And shouldn't I like to see it ! Phit, phit ! cut away ; tJiere you go ; 
that's about the ticket! It strikes me if anything could stun 'em, 
that would They wouldn,t have nothing to talk about, then ! But 
that's nayther here nor there jest yet. It's all to come, and come it 
will, if you mind what you're arter. All you have to do is to keep 
your eyes open. Don't be to anxious. There's lots of time. If she 
means to have you, have you she will." 

" Then you don't think I ought to say anything to her?" 

" Not at present, Tommy: wait awhile. If she means it, she'll 
give you a good opportunity ; and, when she does, why, make your 
game. But you'll see, and act aecordin". Keep on a good side of this 
Mi><Storr; she'll, perhaps manage the whole matter for you. But 
above all — above all, keep the thing dark." 

" I'll not say a syllable to any living soul." 

" Very good. And now how long are you out for? " 

"Oh, I don't want to get back afore eight." 

" Very good. Then we'll have tea now ; there'll then be time to 
smoke another pipe afore you go.* 

Tea was accordingly ordered at once, and they then went over the 
matter again ; and when Tom had remained until half-past seven, he 
left, and returned to the Hall. 

In the meantime Julia was earnestly engaged in impressing upon 
the mind of Georgiaim the expediency of acting towards Tom with 
the most perfect candour. 

" Open your heart to him, dear! she exelaimed. Throw off all re- 
straint; conceal your real feelings no longer ; tell him, without hesita- 
tion, that you will have him. He is so extremely diffident that I don't 



GEORGIAN A. 21 

believe, for a moment, that he will ever approach the subject himself; 
and it must, therefore, be doue by you, you had better, dear, do it at 
once." 

" But don't you think," said Georgiana, "that I ought to mention 
the subject to mamma ?" 

" Can you expect that she would, for a moment, countenance ths 
match ? " 

" Why should she not ? She loves me dearly, and has a thousand 
times told me that her chief earthly hope is to see me happy. It is 
therefore, probable, that when I have explained that my happiness de- 
pends on being united to him whom I feel I most passionately love, she 
having my happiness nearest her heart, would withhold her consent to 
the match ? " 

V My dear George, I am six months your junior, but I, even I, have 
observed a marked difference between the ideas which we girls incline 
to form of happiness and those which are entertained by old married 
people. It has frequently struck me as being strange — very strange — 
that it should be so, but I have always found the difference most 
material ; and I have not the slightest doubt that if you were to mention 
it to your mamma, she would tell you that you were mistaken — that 
you never could be happy with such a man as that. 

" Oh ! but I am perfectly sure I could. 

" No doubt of it; but your mamma would say at once that she 
knew better. The fact is, my dear, mammas will not allow girls to 
know anything. " Look at his station dear! " she would exclaim, as 
if indeed station had anything to do with it. Why if a Marquis were 
to propose to me tomorrow, and I found I couldn't love him I wouldn't 
have him." 

"Nor would I." 

" And yet that would be deemed " a good match. " Oh, " an ex. 
cellent match ! " How very good — how excellent to marry and be 
wretched. No, my dear, tell me of the man whom I love ; that is the 
match for me. If happiness cannot spring from such a match, it can- 
not spring from anything on earth. But old people look at this matter 
so coldly. I suspect — I can't, of course, presume to know, but I do 
iuspect— that when autumn comes they forget the joys of spring. 



22 GEORGIANA. 

" Still," said Georgiana, " I cannot believe that mamma would 
take so cruel a view of the matter." 

" Well, dear, certainly you know her best, but my impression is 
that you had better not say a single syllable to her on the subject." 

11 But she must know of it sometime or other. I could not, of 
eourse, think for a moment of marrying without her consent." 

" Then you had better think no more of Thomas." 
' " Oh, that is impossible." 

" Depend upon it, dear, you will never obtain either her consent 
or that of the General." 

" Then shall I be compelled — if Imarry him at all — to marry him 
clandestinely? 

" I should certainly say so. It must, of necessity be a runaway 
match." 

" But, Julia, what would mamma say to that? " 

"Why, she would say that you were, at least, a girl of spirit. 
She might be for a time angry, but when she saw you happy she would 
soon become reconciled. The General, too, at first might storm, but 
then he soon come round again. This could, however, be considered 
by-and-by. Your first object is, I apprehend, to come to an under- 
standing with Thomas, and as this cannot be done unless you speak ts 
him, you had better make up your mind, dear, to speak to him at 
once." 

" But what in the world am I to say ? " 

" What are you to say? I'll tell you dear what I should say, 
and how I should act. I should ride into that shady lane — you can- 
not possibly have a better place ; it appears to have been formed by 
nature for the purpose — and then I should have him by my side, and 
say calmly, " Thomas, you have been exceedingly attentive to me, 
and I highly appreciate yonr attention, and as I admire your general 
character — believing you to be kind and good — I do not see why we 
should not be united." 

"Oh, but that would he very irregular. That ought to follow 
his proposal. He ought to propose to me." 

"But you give him no encouragement to do so. " " Why, what 
can I do? "Chat to him — smile upon him — treat him not as your 



GEORGIANA. 23 

servant, but as your future husband, to be rare ! I see |that I shall 
have to arrange the whole affair. " "I wish to heaven you would do 
so. " " You do? Then I will. I'll do it in the morning. Til bring 
you together. But recollect, dear, when I have done so, you must pur- 
sue the subject. " "I will ; indeed I will. And now let us return to 
the drawing-room. Mamma will wonder why we are absent so long. 

To the drawing-room, therefore, they did return ; and as the gen- 
eral and Colonel Storr immediately afterwards rejoined them, nothing 
more was said on the subject that night. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE DECLARATION. 



At the usual hour the following morning the horses were brought 
to the door by Tom, and, when Georgiana and Julia had mounted they 
rode towards the avenue slowly. Colonel Storr and the general were 
out for a walk ; but as they started in an opposite direction, the ladies 
had not the slightest fear of being interrupted by them. 

" Don't you think, " said Georgiana, who, as they approached the 
avenue, felt very nervous, " don't you think that we had better defer 
it till tomorrow ? Why my dear ? I am not exactly well this morning. 
I do not feel equal to the task. ' \ Why you silly girl ! exclaimed 
Julia. " But I expected this. Come come ! go through it at once. 
Have it over. You'll feel much more comfortable. Come along do. " 

Having entered the aveuue, Julia turned, and told Tom to ap- 
proach, which he did on the instant — and when she had looked at them 
both for a moment archly, she said : 

" Now I cannot be any longer silent. It appears that you two 
loving people do not understand each other perfectly. Thoma*. you 
love Georgiana ; Georgiana, you love Thomas. Now tell each other so, 
and have done with it. You will both feel much better ! / have no 
desire to hear your declarations: Oh, dear me no ! /'// ride on, and 



54 GEORGIANA. 

you can follow as slowly as you please ; but let me tell you this, 
Thomas ; if you leave Georgianas side until she has declared to you 
that which she feels, you do not deserve to have her! " 

She then put her horse into a canter, and left them riding slowly 
side by side, and feeling of course much embarrased. For some time 
not a word was spoken ; they rod, indeed three or four hundred yards 
in silence ; but Tom at length, feeling that he ought to say something, 
screwed up his courage, and thus commenced : 

"Is it true, Miss Georgiana," said he tremulously, "is it true 
what Mis Storr just said ?" 

Georgiana was silent still. 

"Is it, Miss Georgiana, is it," he added, " is it really true that 
you love me ? " 

" I have always admired you, Thomas," she replied ; " I always 
have admired you." 

"And would you, Miss Georgiana — would you now — pray tell 
me — would you really condescend to have me? I hope no offence, 
Miss Georgiana," he added ; " I hope I don't offend you by being so 
bold?" 

" No, Thomas — no," replied Georgiana faintly. 

"Then, if you uvuld have me, what wouldn't I do to make you 
happy ! " 

" I believe that you would be kind, Thomas; yes, I believe that 
you wouJd.be kind." 

" Kind, Miss Georgiana ! kind ? I'd go to the end of the world to 
please you. There's nothing you could think of in the world you 
shouldn't have ! I'd attend you and serve you, and study to make you 
as happy as the day is long. The birds in the air, miss, shouldn't be 
happier ; no princess alive should have more attention paid her. Send 
me anywhere in the world and I'd go ; tell me to do anything and Fd 
do it. Gratitude would make me I'd do all in my power — I would 
indeed." 

"Thomas," she observed, becoming somewhat more calm, we can- 
not control our affections ; I have long cherished feelings towards you 
which I have until now been mo?t anxious to conceal, and I have 
"believed, Thomas, that you entertain simular feelings towards me." 



GEORGIANA. 25 

" I love you," cried Tom, "to distraction." 

11 There is," she continued, "there is, as you are aware, some differ- 
ence between us in point of station. I am not supposed to regard that 
much. Society thinks much more of it than I do ; indeed I would not 
regard it at all, were I sure, quite sure, that you would be kind to me 
Thomas, faithful, attentive, affectionate, and devoted." 

"Be sure of it, Miss Georgiana. Take your oath of it. Oh! 
wovldrii I love you ! " 

11 Now this must, of course, be kept a profound secret. We shall 
have, Thomas, constant opportunities of recurring to the subject, but, 
for the present, at least, you must appear " 

"I understand — I understand, dear Miss Georgiana, and bless 
Miss Storr for bringing it about. You have made me so happy I You 
don't know how happy you have made me. I feel," he added, taking 
her trembling hand, and imblanting upon it a rapturous kiss, " I don't 
know how I feel— but, bless you, Miss Georgiana— bless you !" 

" Hark ! " she exclaimed with a start, " what was that? " 

"Merely a breeze," replied Tom; " nothing more ; the breeze 
a-forcing its way through the trees." 

" How it startled me ! It made me feel as if I had been doing 
something wrong. But let us now hasten to Julia." 

That "breeze" was the effect of a storm— a storm raging in the 
breast of the General, who, from behind the trees, saw Tom kiss 
Georsriana's hand, and who would have dashed through, but for Colonel 
Storr, who begged for him earnestly not to appear. 

" For your own sake, General, for her sake, keep back! " he cried 
" If you appear, she is lost forever! Where's Julia? She is not 
with them. No ; I thought she could not be with them. Now, then, 
be calm. Let us see them out of the avenue. From what point can 
we do so ? " 

" Here," replied the General. "Let us stand here. From this 
point — the scoundrel ! — we can see them to the end." 

They went to that point and watched them to the end, and im- 
mediately afterwards saw Julia rejoin them. 



26 • GEORGIANS. 

" Now," said the Colonel, " be guided by me. Let us return, 
and consider calmly what, under these ciscumstances, ought to be 
done." 

* ' I'll murder him ! " exclaimed the General as he yielded to Colonel 
Storr. " I'll have the fellows heart out ! And She ! — the hypocritical 
little -devil ! — I couldn't have believed it." 

Swelling with rage, and indulging in bitter imprecations, the 
General returned with his friend to the Hall, and, having entered the 
library, closed the door, and threw himself into a chair. 

" Now," said Colonel Storr, " let us approach the subject calmly, 
and view it as men of the world. In the first place, then, it appears to 
me that this has not been carried on long. From the manner in which 
he kissed her hand, I infer that it was the very first time he had done 
so." 

" And it shall be the last ! " exclaimed the General, — " the last ! " 

" I hope that it will be; but how are we to be sure that it will be 
the last ? That is the grand point for us to consider." 

"I'll kick him to the devil ! " exclaimed the General. " He shall 
not be here another hour ! I'll discharge him the moment he returns. '' 

"Would that be wise ? ivould it be wise to do so? " 

" Do you think I would keep the pernicious scoundrel in my ser- 
vice after this ? " 

" Not for a continuance ; certainly not. But, General let us look 
upon the whole bearings of the case. He after all is not much to be 
blamed." 

" Not much to be blamed ! " 

"No ; doubtless she has given him encouragement.* It is quite clear 
that, if she had not, he never would have dared to approach her. There 
can be no doubt that she encouraged him, and flattered by her notice 
— or it might have been her actual declaration of love — he presumed 
to do that which I feel quite certain he never presumed to do before. 
It may indeed be said that he ought not to have done it ; but is there 
a man in his position who, having the same encouragement, the sam» 
opportunity, would not have acted as he acted? No, not one." 

" She is the devil; I see that clearly." 



GEORGIANA. 27 

" Nor can you blame he^- much." 

" What not blame her'!" 

" Shut out from society as she had been " 

Shut out from society ? Has she not had my society ? Has she 
not had the society of her mother? What better society could she 
have? what other society. could she want?" 

"The society of mothers and fathers is not in general sufficient for 
girls of her age. They want other society ; of that you are as <*$!] 
aware as I am. Do you ever ride out with her ? " 

" I have done so; but certainly not very often." 

"Then how can you wonder at what has occured ? In he* rides 

this fellow has been her constant companion. Can you then wonder, 

under all circumstances, that she should have fixed her affections 
upon him?" 

" I can; I do. I wonder that her pride did not prohibit it. The 

idea of a girl in her position condescending to make a companion, of a 

vulgar, ignorant, low-bred rascal like that is amazing ! But I'll soon 

settle her affection ! I'll very soon subdue her passion ! " 

' ' You had better not resort to any violent means. Come be 
calm." 

" Calm ! the devil ! I cannot be calm. How is it possible for me 
to be calm?" 

" Not possible ! What not for you, who in the field " 

" That's a different thing altogether. I was then performing a 
public duty, but when a man's private feelings are touched that's adiff- 
ferent thing altogether. You can be calm — yts, you can be calm, be* 
cause you have not my feelings. You cannot feel as I feel now, be 
cause upon you the wound has not been inflicted." 

11 And yet I am as anxions as you can be to check the growth of 
this attachment." 

" Storr, I believe it — I firmly believe it. Well, tell me how you 
would proceed." 

" In the first place, I should take no notice of the matter." 

"You would take no notice of it! " 

"No; neither to him nor to her — not the slightest. I would 
write to-night to her aunt at Malvern, and tell her to send a most rjress* 



28 GEORGIANA. 

ing invitation. I would then take her over myself, and having explained 
to her aunt the whole of the circumstances, leave her there — say for a 
month. I would then, in pretence of bettering his condition, get this 
fellow a situation in some family going abroad — that could soon be 
managed ; and when I had thus got him fairly out of the country, I'd 
have her back, and live in a more social style ; I'd cultivate the ac- 
quaintance of the families in the vicinity ; and, mark my words Brooke, 
if you do this, you will find that her feelings of attachment to this 
fellow will very, very soon be subdued." 

"There appears to be something in that," said the General; 
" certainly, there appears to be something in that." 

''Until she left, of course, I should take especial care that he never 
attended her alone. In her rides, I would accompany her myself. And 
as for Julia, I'll write at once to her mother to send for her back, that 
the fact of her being here may form no excuse for the refusal of your 
sister's invitation." 

"Well," said the General, " I really don't see that I, can do bet- 
ter than follow your advice. " 

"Then do it at once ; for be assured that if you let them know of 
this discovery, and either turn him off, or treat her with harshness in 
consequence, she'll eventually have him in spite of your teeth." 

" I'm not afraid of that — I'm not at all afraid of that; I'd prevent 
that, or I'd forfeit my life ; but as harshness, or direct opposition, might 
tend to increase the strength of the attachment, I shall certainly adopt 
your suggestion." 

" Very well. And now it will be necessary for you to conceal 
yonr feelings. I need not, however, to say another word to you about 
that. You will at once see the absolute necessity for speaking, and 
looking, and acting as usual." 

" It will be hard to do so," replied the General, "but it shall be 
done." 

That night the letters were sent as proposed, and neither Julia, 
Georgiana, nor Tom had the most remote suspicion of the secret hav- 
ing been discovered. They rode out the next morning as usual, but 
accompanied by Colonel Storr,who intimated playfully that during his 



GEORGIANA. 29 

stay he should certainly do himself the pleasure of accompanying them 
every morning. 

The General's letter could not reach Malvern in less than two 
days ; but an answer to that of the Colonel arrived at the Hall by re- 
turn of post. Enclosed was a note for Julia, to whom the Colonel 
handed it carelessly at once, and then proceeded to read the letter ad- 
dressed to him. 

He had, however, scarcely commenced it. when Julia, with pout- 
ing lips cried : " Why, look here, papa— just look at this note. Mamma 
has absolutely had the cruelty to send word that I must return to town 
at once." 

V What? " exclahped Georgiana. " Leave us so soon ! Surely 
not. Why ? " 

" That's what I want to know," replied Julia. 

"It seems said the Colonel, to be the wish of your mamma, and 
therefore, of course, you mu*t return." 

" But what for, papa— for what reason ? Why must I return ? " 

" Because my dear it is her wish ; and therefore not another word 
need be said on the subject." 

f, 4 Oh, but how tiresome isn't it, George ? " 

"It is, indeed, provoking," replied Georgiana. 

V I thought vou came down to stop with us a month. But is your 
mamma ill? " 

" No. If she were, I would go back with pleasure. Of course, 
papa, you return with me? " 

" No, my dear, I shall remain a few days. Susan will come down 
to-day by the coach, and you can return to-morrow with her." 

f Well, I never knew anything so tiresome." 

M You may be sure that your mamma would not have sent for you, 
Julia, without sufficient reason." 

" Well, papa, but why is it not stated here? " 

"Julia," replied the Colonel, "I am satisfied, and therefore say 
no more about it." 

That Julia was not satisfied, of course, may l>e inferred ; but feel- 
ing at length convinced that she would not have been sent for without 



ill B Q 

016 102 699 



30 GEORGIANA. 

some cause, her anxiety to ascertain what it could be soon enabled her 
to reconcile herself to the fact of her being thus compelled to leave 
her friend Georgian a. 

That evening, Susan, her maid, arrived, and returned to town with 
her the following morning ; and Georgiana the next day received a 
most affectionate and pressing invitation from her aunt. 

The General acting upon the advice of Coloned Storr, did not ap- 
pear to be at all anxious for her to go ; he left it entirely in the hands 
of his wife, to whom he had, of course, explained all ; and as she pro- 
ceeded to impress on her mind, that as one aunt had left her twenty 
thousand pounds, the other, who was equally rich, might do the same, 
Georgiana — chiefly actuated by the prospect of being enabled to make 
Tom even richer than she then had the power to make him — consented 
to accept the invitation, and at once prepared to leave. 

Care was, of course, taken to prevent any commuincation between 
her and Tom, but, despite all their care, she managed, before she left, 
to let him know that she was going to Malvern for a month. 

To Malvern the General accompanied her, and, during the journey, 
endeavored to be more than usualy kind. They stopped one night in 
London, and he took her to the Opera, and would have remained the 
next day ; but as he was anxious to return as soon as possible, with the 
view of disposing of Tom, they slept the next night at the residence 
of her aunt. 

Georgiana was very highly pleased with her reception ; it was, in- 
deed exceedingly affectionate and warm ; and hence, when the General 
left the next morning, she scarcely regretted his absence. 

That morning, Colonel Storr — who had been in communication 
with a friend of his in town — entered the stable, ostensibly to look at 
the horses, and finding Tom alone, he, after making some unimportant 
observations, said: 

" Thomas did you ever travel? 

"Travel, sir?" 

1 ' Aye ; were you ever abroad ? " 

" What, in foreign parts, sir? No, sir ; never/' 

"I thought not. Would you not like to travel ? * 



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